Is This an Appropriate Way to Do a Glucose Curve?

[Casey Warner]

My cat has not been diagnosed with diabetes and has no signs of diabetes other than 2+ glucose on his urine tests.

The vet wants me to do a curve at home. They want me to test every 3 hrs, up to 15 hrs (six times). They want me to do the first test right before his first feeding. But they don't have me feeding him again until 12 hrs later! That would be the 5th test. Then the last test would be 3 hrs after that meal.

If I followed those instructions, he would only get 1/2 of a can of Friskies (88 kcals) that day. He's already lost so much weight, he doesn't need to lose more. Is this the correct thing to do? If they think he's diabetic, wouldn't it be best for him to eat as normal to get more accurate results? What is the point in testing like this?

Plus, they want me to do this curve every two weeks for three months!

They just sent me these instructions today (Saturday) so I can't discuss it with them until Monday. But I'm supposed to do the curve Sunday and let them know the results on Monday. I would love to have suggestions.

 

[Librarianista]

A curve is testing the glucose every 3 hours for 15-16 hours, or every 2 hours for 12 hours. So that part is accurate. Vets can do these tests in the office, but the stress of being at the vet can (and usually does) artificially inflate the glucose number. Cats are calmer at home.

It you look at the spreadsheets in any signature, you can see how our cats’ glucose levels change throughout the day. Regular interval testing will give you and your vet a better picture of whether your cat’s pancreas is doing what it’s supposed to.

Many members here do weekly curves on our cats because to quote Schoolhouse Rock - knowledge is power. The more we know about our cat’s situation the better we can aid and adapt. That’s also part of the reason using a human pet meter is so frequently recommended on this forum. The testing materials are much cheaper - about 13¢ per test vs $1 per test on a pet meter.

As for the food part, I’m not sure about that… personally I leave the food out most of the day, but pick it up about 2 hours before I give the insulin shot so that doesn’t affect the reading I take before I feed the next meal. Shots are 12 hours apart, so no food starting at 10 hours after breakfast. But that is advice I was given here. My vet made no comment on a feeding schedule. I have taken my cat in for a few curves before I started home testing, and I have no clue if they fed her during the day. I always brought her in after the first meal and insulin dose.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

If I followed those instructions, he would only get 1/2 of a can of Friskies (88 kcals) that day. He's already lost so much weight, he doesn't need to lose more. Is this the correct thing to do? If they think he's diabetic, wouldn't it be best for him to eat as normal to get more accurate results? What is the point in testing like this?

The point is that your vet isn't up to date on the latest information about treatment of feline diabetes (and he's got LOTS of company)

Here when we suggest a curve, you test before the AM feeding, then feed (then shoot if you're on insulin)...then feed multiple small meals throughout the cycle because it's easier on the pancreas to deal with smaller, more frequent meals, it keeps kitty's blood glucose more steady and it makes for a much happier cat!. The only time we tell you to not feed is the 2 hours immediately before "shot times" so that when you get that Pre-shot test, it's not influenced by food.

Feline diabetes is a lot like human diabetes....one of the first things they tell humans is to reduce the carbs in the diet, and eat 6 small meals instead of 3 big ones. It's the same for our sugarcats.

So if you (for example) are doing a 15-16 hr curve and want to start at say 6am, you don't want him to eat after 4am, then test at 6am, 9am, 12 noon, 3pm, (no food after 4pm) 6pm, 9pm.

 

[Casey Warner]

Thanks.

The instructions don't specifically mention when to feed him. But it suggests that the second feeding would be 12 hrs after the first feeding. It makes me wonder if their info is outdated or if these instructions are what they use for dogs. I can't imagine even feeding a cat only twice a day. Mine would be so mouthy I'd go crazy. Either that or they'd just simply start eating whatever they could find (some have pica).

I think what I'll do is just feed him normally and see what happens.

I just looked over the notes again and they want me to do a curve, but it doesn't look like they think he's diabetic anymore. They're concerned about the pancreas, stomach, and tumors/cancer. Why even do a curve? I hate when doctors do this. I don't want them just telling me to do something, I want them to explain why as well.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[Dyana]

Maybe they want you to test him before eating breakfast and then 3 hours after eating (and then throughout the day, and 3 hours after his dinner) to see if/how his pancreas is working in bringing his blood sugars down by itself, after food is consumed.
Have they done a fructosamine test?
If he needs all his calories, perhaps you could either feed him bigger meals for breakfast and dinner that day, or feed him snacks in between but record the times you fed those snacks.

 

[Casey Warner]

Question:
In non-diabetic cats, what is their typical blood glucose level when fed canned/wet food only vs primarily dry food?

I would think the dry fed cats would have significantly higher glucose levels (over 100?) than cats fed only or primarily wet/canned food.

So far, Tony's glucose for today is ranging from 58-70. He's eaten 1/2 can of Friskies and nibbled on an unknown amount of dry food (probably less than 2 Tbsp).

 

[Sarah&Soph]

Question:
In non-diabetic cats, what is their typical blood glucose level when fed canned/wet food only vs primarily dry food?

I would think the dry fed cats would have significantly higher glucose levels (over 100?) than cats fed only or primarily wet/canned food.

So far, Tony's glucose for today is ranging from 58-70. He's eaten 1/2 can of Friskies and nibbled on an unknown amount of dry food (probably less than 2 Tbsp).

I’m not sure there is any one correct answer to this. It’s more than likely going to depend on the cat. My boyfriend’s non diabetic cat eats dry food and when I checked his blood sugar it was in the 70s, the same as my cat when she was in remission on low carb wet food only. Some cat’s normal BG is in the 40s or 50s, others are in the 80s or 90s.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

What generally happens is that if a cat, or human for that matter, eats high carb food, the pancreas works hard to produce enough insulin to move the end product of metabolism (glucose) into the cells. The higher the carbs, the harder the pancreas as to work. If the beta cells in the pancreas are damaged, like with diabetes, there's not enough endogenous insulin available to do the job. Thus, there's glucose floating around in the bloodstream.

If you sat down and had a big hot fudge sundae, your blood glucose might be high for a little while but your body would compensate.

 

[Casey Warner]

I’m not sure there is any one correct answer to this. It’s more than likely going to depend on the cat. My boyfriend’s non diabetic cat eats dry food and when I checked his blood sugar it was in the 70s, the same as my cat when she was in remission on low carb wet food only. Some cat’s normal BG is in the 40s or 50s, others are in the 80s or 90s.

So then, if I'm seeing regular numbers in the 60s, that's not bad? I wondered if it was too low.

At the vet clinic, when they ran a Chem10, his blood glucose was around 120. He was eating mostly dry food then and he was also super nervous at the appointment. Now he eats mostly wet/canned food.

What generally happens is that if a cat, or human for that matter, eats high carb food, the pancreas works hard to produce enough insulin to move the end product of metabolism (glucose) into the cells. The higher the carbs, the harder the pancreas as to work. If the beta cells in the pancreas are damaged, like with diabetes, there's not enough endogenous insulin available to do the job. Thus, there's glucose floating around in the bloodstream.

That is the best explanation I have ever seen. Quick and simple. Thank you!

If you sat down and had a big hot fudge sundae, your blood glucose might be high for a little while but your body would compensate.

So if a person (or cat) ate enough carbs and sugars, their pancreas might start giving them problems at some point?

 

[Sarah&Soph]

Readings in the 60s are perfect. Some cats who are not on insulin regularly test in the 40s, so 60 is perfectly fine. Even a reading of 120 at the vets office is great.

So if a person (or cat) ate enough carbs and sugars, their pancreas might start giving them problems at some point?

Yes, what you are describing here is Type 2 diabetes

 

[Casey Warner]

Thanks.

So I see that my vet also wanted me to do a home urine test in the AM and PM on the same day I did the curve (today). Unfortunately, my cat only urinates once a day and that's at night, usually. He might urinate before I wake up, I don't know.

I'm starting to think they don't know the difference between a cat and a dog. These instructions look like they were written for a dog, not a cat.

Has anyone else had to collect a AM and PM urine sample (for a home dipstick test) the same day they did a curve?

This is so frustrating.